BTCC: Audi Motorsport Newsletter 2005-07-18

DTM:
Audi takes lead in the DTM
In front of a record turnout of 143,000 spectators at the Norisring,
Audi has taken the lead in the DTM manufacturers' standings. In one of
the most turbulent races in DTM history, Audi scored points in its ...

DTM:Audi takes lead in the DTM

In front of a record turnout of 143,000 spectators at the Norisring,
Audi has taken the lead in the DTM manufacturers' standings. In one of
the most turbulent races in DTM history, Audi scored points in its "home
game" with as many as six cars, thus replacing Mercedes-Benz at the top
of the standings. For the fans, the "man of the race" was local hero
Christian Abt, who swept through to second place from 17th on the grid in
the Audi A4 DTM entered by Audi Sport Team Joest. Title defender Mattias
Ekstrom was spun out by competitors three times. Having dropped back to
tenth place, Ekstrom recovered to third place. Allan McNish finished in
fourth place to claim his best DTM result to date. Like last year, Martin
Tomczyk fought his way through from position 14 on the grid to fifth
place. Tom Kristensen and Pierre Kaffer completed Audi's good result
with seventh and eighth places respectively. Rinaldo Capello and Frank
Stippler retired after accidents.

ALMSFirst victory of the season for Biela/Pirro

Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro (Team ADT Champion Racing)
celebrated their first victory of the season at the Infineon Raceway near
San Francisco (California). They reduced the gap to their team-mates JJ
Lehto and Marco Werner to just three points. Lehto/Werner finished third
following a collision. For two hours, Lehto/Werner led the race at the
Infineon Raceway before Werner made contact with a GT1 car when leaving
the pits. The replacement of the right front upright cost one lap. For
the Audi R8 and Team ADT Champion Racing, it marks the fourth victory of
the season in only the fifth race.

News from the Audi brand group

BTCC:Podium for SEAT in BTCC

SEAT claimed a podium result in the fifth event of the British
Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Croft. Works driver Jason Plato,
driving a SEAT Toledo Cupra, finished third for the Spanish make in the
third race followed by team-mate James Pickford. Luke Hines completed the
result in 6th position with another SEAT Toledo Cupra. At the halfway
point of the season, Plato remains fourth in the standings with 122
points and is still in touch of the top-three in the series.

SupercopaDouble victory on birthday

On his 24th birthday, Florian Stoll presented the best
birthday present to himself: The star of tomorrow won rounds nine and ten
of the German SEAT Leon Supercopa. Stoll is the first double winner of
the series since it has joined the DTM programme. Florian Gruber is the
leader with 101 points.